Victoria Bridge across the Kelani River

Construction of an Iron Bridge was started in 1892, a little downstream from the Bridge of Boats. It took three years to build and was considered an engineering feat at that time. The bridge was declared open on May 24, 1895, the birthday of the reigning Queen of England, Queen Victoria, and the bridge was named Victoria Bridge.

For over 60 years (1895-1959), the Victoria Bridge was the only bridge across the Kelani River and was open for all the traffic which connect north of river (Kandy,Anuradhapura, puttalam via Negombo) to Capital city Colombo.